On September 20, university president Elson Floyd led Washington State University in dedicating its new world-class research and education orchard. Ten years in the planning, the 150 acres located in the mouth of Moses Coulee, 12 miles southeast of the TFREC Wenatchee lab, will enable WSU to maintain its global standing in the tree fruit sciences and further support Washington's quality industry.

WSU and the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission are partnering to plan and develop the site. State of the art irrigation and deer protection facilities were installed this summer.

The new orchard will serve as an appropriate platform for research and education activities, interdisciplinary team projects, and biointensive approaches, built on a solid, technically advanced farm infrastructure. Pumps, filters, irrigation system, deer fencing, electrical, fiber optic, security compound were planned and implemented with substantial input from Washington agriculture businesses.

View video on the New Orchard at the WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center (Windows Media).